Fluid flow control valve



Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UN ITED STATE S OFFICE system relatively independent of variations pressure of the commonfluid supply source.

Other andf urther objects',,features andadvantages of the invention. will" becomepap-parent as the descriptionproceeds, a v

Fluid flow control valves constructed. in accord.- ance with my invention. permit the utilization of a. common source of fluid pressure tosupply two or more fluid utilizing devices, andma k itpos:

sible to provide a common reservoir forl receiving the returnfluid,

In, order to cause each fluidiutilizing apparatus to operate at itsproper: speed, regardless of the power and thefluid consumption requirements thereof; I provide fluid regulating valves ,in the supply-lines from the .common'fluid pressure sour.ce;-t.o the several, fluidautilizing devices. ,In

each" of the regulating valves, 15 provide ,means connected in the return lines of the fluid-utilizing devices-for automaticallycontrolling the setting oi-the regulating valve in -accordanceiwith the fluid return, so that each: fluid. utilizing device is supplied with only enough fluid to perform. the

required amount of work and no-extrapressure' isleft-in the return'fluida r A better understanding; of the: invention will be afiorded by the following detailedv description considered in conjunction with the accompanye ing-drawing in whichjFig. l, is a schemati'cidiagramot afi-uid pressure operated system in ac.- cor'dance with i myv inventionr employin a; come mon fluid pressure sourcaand aip'luralityorfluid utilizing devices, one of which serves for regulat-i;

ingthefluid: consumption of the" remaining devices.

trolling the relativespeeds of'the:devices',;Fig;: 2 being illustrativeof an embodiment of the" inf vention suitable. for application in' welder" controls and Fig; 3: is a sectionalview' of a speed regulating valve in accordance with my fluid. flow" and 'e'ci i'ms." (01. 137-402) y T45 Fig. .2-isa schematic diagram of afluid pressure operated-system havingna pluralitygofffluidoper ateddevices,.with means for distributingxthe fluid supply of said devices: inra fixed ratio-and con-.-

. 2 invention employedf r systems ofFigs. l and.2.

v Like reference characters are utilized through out the drawing to designate likeparts. 1 g Referring to the drawing, Fig.v 2 illus-tratesa fluid. pressure. operated, systemcausing a plurality offfluid operated. devices to run at a' substantially fixed ratio of. speeds with the absolute speeds determined by .the speed of its fluid pressure producing pump.. It illustratesan arrangement such. as may be. employed in welder controls, for: ex.- ample, for regulating the rate of feed of the electrodes and the. work. r i

.,'As illustrated in Fig. Zthere isa pump II. for drawing fluid from a common. reservoir I2: and supplying fluid under. pressure toa pair of fluidpressureautilizi'ng; devices suchasfluidmotors I3 and, l 4.,.for example... Although the inventionis:

not limited to. a hydraulic system or to utilization of.. a particular type of hydraulic. fluid, for the sake. of' illustration, it will be described inconnectionwith the use of oil as thedistributed fluid, the devices l3 and! being oilmotors in the caseof the embodimentof- Fig. 2. Fluid-flow and speed-control valves [5: and [6 are provided for regulating the flow of fluid to the oil motors I3- and I14, respectively. The valves l-5- and Hi are preferably arranged. for automatically regulating theflow of fluid in -accordance with the rate of flow andflpressureoifluid returned to the reservoir- 12.. The. arrangement and construction of thevalves l5 and lfi are shown in: greater detail.

inFig..3. 7 Referring to Fig. shownby way of illustration comprises avalve body. If! havinga bore Hiextendin longitudinally through the body l1, and containing a slidably' mounted. plunger [9. The b0rel8'is intersected by afluid supply passageway Zl -eXtending trans.-'

verselyacross the body I]. Itis also intersected by a return fluid entrance passageway 22 extend-- ing. partially through the-body l1. I hesupply passageway 21 is connected to inlet and outlet,

conduits 23 and. 24. The fluid return passageway has inlet connection from a returnconduit 25 and extends partially through the body l1 toa bore 26 which extends fromone end 21-of the body I1, partially through the body intersecting the. passageway 22, but notintersecting the passageway 21;]A return-fluid exit passageway 28 is provided which extends partially through the. valve body I! from an intersection with the bore 1-8 to aconne'ction to an outlet return flow con,- duit 2-9.

bore 26 for forming an orifice whereby a return on-trolling speeds inthe 3, the. form of valve there The passageway 2-8 also intersects the I bore 26 and a fluted piston 3| is mounted in the justing the longitudinal position of the fluted orifice piston 3I, and closing the passageway 28 at th end 21 of the body Acompresslon spring 36, resting in a socket 31 is provided for holding the fluted piston 3| against the adjusting screw 34.

The plunger I9 is provided with a longitudinal central opening 38 for relieving difierences in pressure at the ends of th plunger I8. In order to regulate the flow of fluid through the supply passageway 2|, the plunger I9 is so. constructed as to leave an open passageway when the plunger I9 is in a predetermined position, .and to close the passageway partially as the plunger I3 is deflected from such a position. For example, an opening may be cut through the plunger I9 transversely, registering with the supply passageway2| when the plunger I9 is in the predetermined full-open position, or.the plunger I9 is appropriately recessed as illustrated. In the specific construction illustrated, the plunger I9 simply has its diameter reduced to form a neck portion 39 which registers with, the passageway 2| when the plunger I9 is inthe longitudinal position illustrated in Fig. 3.

For yieldingly urging the plunger |9 toward the full-open position which is illustrated, or biasing it to the open valve position, a. suitable means such as a compression spring 4| is provided fitting between asocket 42 in the screw plug 32 and the left hand end of the plunger I9. The spring 4| is illustrated in Fig.3 in the position in which it is substantiallyfully extended.

The plunger I9 is also relieved so as'to expose a portion, at least, of th transverse surface thereof to the fluid in the return passageway '22 so that any back pressure in this passageway serves to oppose the biasing spring 4| and move the plunger I9 toward 'the'left to throttle the supply pasageway 2 I. As illustrated, the plunger I9 is provided with a reduced diameter stem portion '43 which extends through the passageway 22 and through the portion of the bore I8 between the passageways 22 and 28. This portion of the bore may be decreased in diameter,

to correspond to the diameter of the stem 43, but for the sake of 'more ready and more accurate machinability of the bore, a reducer 44 is utilized for providing a reduced diameter bore 45 to receive the stem' portion ,3 f the.

plunger I9. I

The reducer 44 is in the form of a hollow cylinder or bushing having an outer diameter to correspond to the inner diameter of the bore I8, and having an inner bore ,45. An annular groove 46 is cut in the reducer 44 and the groove 46 is filled with a ring 41 composed of fluid-absorbing substances such as a natural rubber, for example, of the composition employed in solid truck tires which tends to absorb the oil ordinarily employed as an operating. fluid. In this manner, upon absorption of fluid by the ring 47,

the bushing 44 is tightly held inplace by the expansion of the ring 41.

In forming the flutings in the fluted orifice piston 3|, a plurality of longitudinal grooves are formed on the cylindrical surface of the piston 3| around the periphery thereof. However, in order to facilitate variations in orifice efiect by longitudinal movement of the piston 3|, the ends 48, 49 and 50, for example, of different longitudinal grooves, are placed at different distances .from the end of the piston 3|.

, The-mannerin which the" valve l'fi controls the'speed ofthe oil motor -I4 will be understood more readily from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3. If it be assumed that the oil motor I4 is subjected to a heavy mechanical load, or is carrying a heavy mechanical load, so that substantially the entire input fluid pressure from the conduit 24 is opposed by the torque or pressure of the mechanical load, the fluid pressure in the return conduit 25 will be relatively low. Furthermore, there will be no tendency for the oil motor I4 to run away or operate at a .speed greater than that for which it was'de'signed'. Likewise, there will be no tendency. foran excessive new of oil through the'return' conduit 25 .greaterthantheloaded 'fiow capacity of the oil motor I4: {The piston 3| in the speed control valve is appropriately adjusted by means ,of the adjusting screw 34 so as to produce an orifice opening which will readily pass the rated oil flow of the motor I4, and there will be substantially no back pressure in the portion 22 of the return passageway in the valve body I'I. Accordingly, the plunger I9 will remain in the full open position inwhich itis illustrated in'Fig. 3.

If, however, the'loa'd upon the motor I4 should be relieved, or if the oil pressure of the supply line 23 should become greater by reason of increasing speed of the pump I I, or decreasing consumption of oil by the other oil motor I3, the rate of oil flow through the return conduit 25 will increase and the fluid'pressure'in the portion 22 of the return flow passageway in the valve body I! willincrease. The pressure acting upon-the transverse surface portion 52 of the plunger I9 will be increased. (The pressure acting upon the corresponding portion'of the end 53 of the plunger I9 will be no greater than that in the passageway 28, owingto the fact that thepressure is equalized between the screw plug 32 and the passageway 28 by theopening 38 through the plunger I9.) Thisaction deflects the plunger I9 toward left against the pressure of the spring 4| and partially closes ways 22 and 28 will become negligible or reduced to'a value only sufficient to overcome the force of the spring 4| with the required degree of 'throtting,

In this manner the relative speeds of the motors I3 and I4, or their relative oil consumptions are maintainedat the desired value, regardlessof the'loads upon the devices I3 and-I4 and regardless of the oil flow required by either of the devices for driving its rated load.

It will beobserved that in the speed control valve constructed as described and as illustrated in-Fig. 3, a type of check valve operation isobtained in that fiuid regulation and speed regulation are obtained with the'pump running in such; a directionas: to; produce. oil; flowing: in;thc dire tion;of'thearrows. a

If? the direction 015.011: flow is reversed; he: oil pressure in; the'condui-t 2.9 acting uponthepiston 3:,I- will tend; to 1' deflect. it: againstithe force oi: the spr ng: 3 thus; producing; a, iulhopena condition of; the; orifices; by having; allrthe; groovesocmrnus nicating. with: theppassageway '22; The oi-r pres.- sure-in, the; passageways '28;- and; 22 .will then:v be suhstantiall the samekand, since the oilpressure is-eql1alized1with: that-, at the other end." or the" plunger I9 by the relief aperture 38", theuplunger I9 will bedeflected to, thefull, open; position by: the spring 4 I; causing: unregulated, operation, of the fluid pressure utilizing devices-[stand I14; :If this type of operation shouldhedesi-red to: o'nlya modified degree, thespringJSB may be made relatively heavy; or if this type of operation is not desired at all, the. piston 3'ILmay be secured in the bore 26 inv any suitable: manner, forexample, by making the piston 3I and the set screw integral. Although in Fig. 2 the oil utilizing devices I3 and I4 have been represented as o-ilmotors, the

invention is not limited thereto, for example, as

illustrated. in Fig. 1., the. two corresponding 'oil utilizing devices may bea relatively large hydraulic: operator I31 anda smallerhydrahlic oporator Idof the cylinder and: moving piston. type.

As previously pointed Qutrinthe arrangement off'Fig, 2, ,the, relativespeeds of the-devices. l3- and I 4 areautomatically maintained, but the, absolute speed will vary in. proportionto the speed-1 oflthe pump 1 lheinyention not. limited; to this arrangement. Fig. 1, for example, illustrateswa system in which the absolute; speeds as well: as the: relative speeds, of oil utilizing: devices I13! and It: may be maintained at? desired values irrespective 0.15: the loads. (if.v the: devices I3" and-I41 and irrespective of. the speed. and-fluid pressure produced by the pump I I within reasonable limits.

In this case there is aJfour-way shut-oft valve 511 for:- reversing the direction of flow of oil-from the pump I I through the oil utilizing devices back to the reservoir I2 when the devices are to be run in reverse.

Inv the arrangement of Fig. 1, an additional fluid pressure consuming device, such as an oil motor 54, for example, is provided having an additional speed regulating valve 55 like the valve of Fig. 3. In this case the fluid pressure utilizin devices I3, I4 .and 54 are supplied from a common input conduit 56 divided at a cross fitting 51 into three conduits 58, 23 and 59. Similarly, there are return conduits 5 I, 29 and 62 from the devices I3, I4 and 54, respectively. The oil motor 54 is,

in this case, arranged as an idler for the purpose of taking up any fluid flow not required for operating the devices I3 and I4 at their rated speeds, or the speeds for which their regulators I5 and I6, respectively, are set. In this case the desired absolute speed of the devices I3 and I I is set by adjustment of the adjusting screwv 34 of the speed regulator 55 sothe idler motor 54 is ready to take up the excess capacity of the pump I I. The regulators I5 and I6 are first adjusted to give the desired speed of the operators I3 and I4.

The regulator 55 is then adjusted by opening its orifice just enough to make the pressure difference between lines 59 and 66 relatively small.

Preferably, the speed regulator 55, in this case, is provided with a control spring 4I, referring to Fig. 3, which is relatively weak so that slight variations in pressure from the pump I I will produce a wide variation in oil flow consumed by the idler motor 54 in comparison with the hydraulic operators I3 and I4. Other suitable means may be; employed. for giving thecregulator ayrelatively-"stcepy regulationzrcurve and the: governors- I5:-;and I6 relative close. regulation w'ithra 'flat" curve... Therefore, withthe: spring II made weak,= if: the." devices I3: and "I4w'i are operating: undersuchload as to leave very-little excess fluid: pres! sure, or if the supply pump. I I; is operating at reduced power so as, to leave negli ible; excesspressure; the small pressure acting inthe-returnline 63- will still be sufficient, tOE defiectithe plunger: I9; andcut-downthe flow of oii tothemotor'54; v Even if. thespeed regulating devices I5 and-I5; and- 55- are adjustedfor the samev degree oiregu'r latiom it: will be. apparent that with the, oil mo tor- 54,;idlingand; withthedevices I:3 ".t I I" andl 54 operating. in: theasame-speed. ratio; if slight: variationinpressure in the i source I I; should; take: place theregulators: I 5-and I6 of 'the loaded-de vices I3- and I4! willcut ofi: more oilsflowr 11 313130! portionnthan the regulator 55 ofthe unloads:d:

or idling motor 541 so thatthespeeds of :therdezvices I5; and IBWilI remain relatively little airtested byslight changes in the output oflthe:

pump II. 1 v v Preferably, a check valve Meals,-.connectediin'. the output: or returnline- 53 of theidler i motor: 5.4. When the Va1V83'53 isturnedto reversethe:

flow of oiL thechecIs valves 64 prevents. flow-of oil:-

throughthe motor 54-, and the; pistons of: the:

I hydraulic operatorsyIfl and; I4? are returned to their starting positions;

I-have herein shown;andzparticularly described;

certainembodiments of my invention andv certain methods of operation embraced therein .for-

' the; purpose of explaining itsprin'ciple of operatiorr and: showing: its. application, but it: will; be;

obvious to, those 'skillediin .the art :thahmanyr modifications: and; variations: are possible and I'- aim; .therefore,=: to:v cover: all such modifications and. variations, ajsfall within the scope or in vention which is defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid flow control valve for fluid operated apparatus comprising, in combination, a body having a longitudinal bore therein extending through the body from one end to the other and having a, uniform diameter with end portions of the bore having threads cut therein from said diameter, a plunger slidable in the said bore, the body having a transverse passageway intersecting said bore adapted for connection to a supply conduit at one end and to an outlet conduit at the other end, a second transverse passageway intersecting said bore for connection to a return conduit, a third transverse passageway adapted to connect with said return conduit intersecting said bore and having a longitudinally extending portion intersecting said second transverse passageway, said portion of the third passageway having an orifice means therein constituting a'restriction, said plunger having a portion of reduced diameter aligned with said supply passageway in a given position of the plunger, and an unreduced portion adapted to close said supply passageway when the plunger is moved from said given position by a pressure difference across the orifice means, a stem portion on the plunger extending longitudinally in the bore from said unreduced portion, threaded plug means for closing the ends of said bore, a sleeve fitted in the portion of the said bore between said second and third transverse passageways for receiving the stem on the said plunger, in a substantially fluid tight manner sealing means for sealing the sleeve in the longitudinal bore for closing communication between said second and third passageways through said longitudinal bore, fluid communication means between the third passageway and the end of the bore opposite to the stem, and biasing means opposing movement of "the plunger from said given position by the pressure difference. 2. A fluid flow control'valve for fluid operated apparatus comprising, in combination, a body having a longitudinal bore therein extending throughthe body from one end to the other and having a uniform diameter with end portions of the bore having threads cut therein from said diameter, a plunger 'slidable in the said bore, the body having a transverse passageway intersecting said bore adapted for connection to a supply conduit at one end and to an outlet conduit at the other end, a second transverse passageway in.- tersecting said bore for connection to a return conduit, a third transverse passageway adapted toconnect with said return conduit intersecting said bore and having a longitudinally extending portion intersecting said second transverse passageway, said portion of the third passageway having an orifice means therein constituting a restriction, said plunger having a portion of reduced diameter aligned with said supply passageway in a given position of the plunger, and an unreduced portion adapted 'to close said supply passageway when the plunger is moved from 7 said given position by a pressure difference across the orifice means, a stem portion on the plunger extending longitudinally in the bore from said unreduced portion, threaded plug means for closing the ends'of said borefa sleeve fitted in the portion of the'said'bore between said second and third transverse passageways for receiving the stem on the said plunger, in a substantially'fluid tight manner sealing means for sealing the sleeve in the longitudinal bore for'closing communicationbetween said second and thirdpassageways through said longitudinal bore, said stem portion forming a shoulder on the plunger facing the third passageway for impingement by the'fluid pressure in the third passageway whereby the plunger is actuated away from the given position by an increase in fluid pressure within the third passageway, fluid communication means" between the third passageway and the end of the bore op-' posite to'the stem, and resilient'means for"-re-' sisting the displacement of the plunger whereby the position of the plunger and ainountof closure of 'the first passageway is proportioned to the fluid pressure in-the' third passageway.

3; Apparatus as in claim 2 having the orifice means adjustable for varying the restriction in the third passageway.

WILLIAM T. STEPHENS.

'REFERENCES CITED 'I hefo1lowing references are of record 'inthe fileof this patent: I r

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date Name "371,063 Hays. Oct. 4, 1887 1,467,522 Amsler Sept. 11', 1923 1,579,600 Durante Apr. 6, 1926 1,905,132 Bishop Aprj25, 1933 1,923,595 Temple Aug. 22, 1933 1,938,287 Frantz Dec. 5, 1933 1,964,196 Cuttat June 26, 1934 2,001,988 Temple May 21, 1935 2,146,537 Farnham Feb. 7, 1939' 2,255,787 Kendrick Sept. 16, 1941 2,306,379 Conradson -Dec. 29, 1942- 2,317,563 Tucker Apr. 27, 1943 2,321,000 Bennett June 8, 7943 2,365,892 McLeod Dec. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country r-Date:

Great Britain i of 1924 

